Luggage returned by end of day, says BA

BRITISH Airways says it is aiming to return thousands of items of misplaced luggage to owners by the end of the day as the carrier gets its schedule back on track.

A 'mountain' of lost luggage - mostly at Heathrow - built up at UK airports following the increase in security checks which came into force eight days ago.

The flag carrier will cancel 19 Heathrow short-haul flights today, but is operating a full-schedule of long-haul flights from the airport, as well as a full Gatwick service. EasyJet, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic have also made no cancellations.

At the height of the disruption items of misplaced BA luggage was put in the 'low tens of thousands'. To make matters worse, when the ban on hand luggage was introduced many people had to put their house and car keys and mobile telephones into their main luggage for the cargo hold.

Many have now arrived back home and have had to break into their homes or call a locksmith to gain entry. While those parked at the airport have been unable to get their cars out of the car parks.

Theft from luggage has also increased at Heathrow and Gatwick - raising fears among home owners of burglaries. An airport source said: 'It is a genuine source of concern for those who still have not got their luggage back. Somewhere there is a case with both the house keys and the address of the property attached to it.'

BA confirmed it is using lorries and cargo planes to take luggage from Heathrow in an effort to return it to passengers.

Meanwhile, the row over whom is to blame continued. The airlines blame airport owners BAA for not having enough staff and facilities to cope with the increased security and ministers for not ordering in the army and police to help out.